Man and wife stage fake robbery with toy GUN, gets away with $20 000

Man and wife stage fake robbery with toy GUN, gets away with $20 000. An accountant and her husband have stage managed a robbery with a toy gun at Savanna Tobacco offices and stole $20 000.

The couple connived with the husband’s brother, who is still at large. Azellia Madzorera (24) an accountant at Savanna Tobacco and her husband Craig Shamu (27) were arraigned before Bulawayo magistrate Miss Adelaide Mbeure yesterday.

She remanded Shamu in custody and his wife to September 28 on $50 bail. The court heard how Shamu’s brother, Edwin Marufu, took $12 000 of the loot to Harare where he stashed it before proceeding to South Africa.

Mr Nkathazo Dlodlo for the State told the court that the trio hatched a plan to fake a robbery in August.

“Accused person arrived at work on September 12 and she sorted money for banking. In the afternoon she called her husband who was waiting in the city centre telling him the money was ready. He took a taxi to Famona where his wife’s company is,” he said.

“Shamu took $20 675 from the safe, tied his wife’s hands and legs and covered her mouth with industrial tape. He left the toy gun on top of the safe and went away. He took the cellphone that his wife had used to
call him and destroyed it to conceal evidence.”

Madzorera was facing two charges; deliberately supplying false information to the police and theft. She pleaded guilty to both counts.

“Your Worship I admit to both charges but my brother forced me to be part of this plan. I’m so sorry for betraying my boss’ trust. He entrusted me with his money but I stole it from him. I also have a five-month-old baby that I’ve been breastfeeding from the cells since my arrest on Tuesday.

Please grant me a bail so that I can take my baby home,” said Madzorera in-between sobs. Shamu also pleaded guilty to theft.

“Your Worship I’m sorry for my actions. Ever since the commission of this offence, I haven’t been able to eat. I’ve been feeling guilty and ashamed all this week. I almost called my wife’s boss to apologise but I
was too embarrassed,” said Shamu.

He told the court that just a few days before the commission of the offence, he called Marufu telling him that he wanted out of the deal.

“Somehow he managed to convince me to go through with the plan. I can’t really say I was forced into it, but Marufu said he would go through with the plan either way so I ended up helping him,” Shamu said.